Safety razor blade



oat. 24, 1933. 5. D. Sl -iOEMAKER SAFETY RAZOR BLADE Filed Oct. 23. 1931 gwoentop SD Shoemaker Patented ct. 24, I933 SAFETY RAZOR BLADE Sylvester D. Shoemaker, Columbus, Ohio Application October 23,

-2 iJlaims.

This invention relates to safety razor blades of the thin double-edged flexible type clamped between arcuate guard and back members to retain the blade in condition of curvature.

Due to the clamping and bending of the blade between the associa. ed guard and clamping members of the blade holder, tensions 9r torques are set up in the blade which are transmitted to the cutting edges and are apt to interfere with the truecutting action of the blade. It is desired to relieve the blade of these stresses which I have endeavored to do in my prior application, Serial No. 540,939 filed May 29, 1931 by removing the major central portion of the blade, directing the stresses, if any, to the outer endportions which portions are located beyond the endof the cutting edges. Although a blade constructed as in my prior application is substantially free from inherent stresses, it has been found that the connections at the ends of the blade will not permit the full freedom of the cutting edge ca ying sections to position themselves for true cutting action but due to the great space between these connections, any slight twist or unevenness in the clamping thereof in the holder, is readily-transmitted to the other side of the blade or the cutting edge carrying portion thereof.

It is the object of the present invention to so separate the edge carrying portions-of the blade that each thereof will be substantially independent of the other so that the stresses and strains of one side will be kept from effecting the other side of the blade. This I accomplish by forming the blade open at the ends or extending open ended slots into the central portion of the blade leaving a comparatively small connection between the divided sections at which point any slight movement or twist would have a negligible efiect upon the sides of the blade.

Another object of forming the blade with the cutting edge carrying portions independently from one another is to overcome defects found facture. These defects although hardly noticeable on casual inspection, are found to be present upon a careful examination of the holder parts. This is perhaps due tothe fact that in many instances, such holders are given away free to promote the sale of the blades and therefore careful attention could not be given to the manufacture thereof.

A still further object of providing the blade open sided at the extreme ends is to efiect the positioning of one side of the blade during the in .the holder part resulting from faulty manu- 1931. Serial No. 570,541]. (Cl. 30-12) accurate positioning of the blade relative to the back and guard member in that the blade positioning lugs of the holder may thus be so arranged as to engage the blade at the extreme outer ends where the lateral shifting of the blade may be 80 controlled most easily and the blade held more positive.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of theblade involving the features of the present invention;

Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive are various modifications of the blade; and

Fig. 5 is an edge elevation thereof showing the possible transverse twisting of the blade while the cutting edge carrying portions remain straight.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there has been illustrated a plurality of blades 1 all of which are of the thin flexible double-edged type and have the general outside contour found in such blades in order that they may be adapted for use with holders formed therefor. The blades are also formed with the usual central opening 30 2 for the reception of the clamping screw of the associated holder (not shown).

The razor blades now found on the market;- -although formed in various shapes and sizes and apertured centrally thereof have their ends uncut or closed forming connections at the ends of the cutting edge carrying portions of the blade. Due to these connections, any slight twist or bending of one side of the blade is readily transmitted to the other side distorting, this side similarly. This objection is overcome in the present construction wherein the slots 3 of the blade are open at the outer ends thereof and having their inner ends extending substantially to the medial portion of the blade or in close proximity to the central opening 2, leaving only comparatively narrow bridge portions 4 connecting the sides of the blade.

The narrow bridge portions which are located in the central region of the blade will permit distortions of one of the cutting edge carrying portions without transmitting such distortion to the other side of the blade. Further, by the provision of the open ended slots 3, the cutting 105 edges will remain true or straight even though the bridge portions 4 are twisted on the order disclosed in Fig. 5 of the drawing. To define the flexible area comprising the bridge portion 4 more to the central portion of the blade, the 9 blades shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have the inner ends of the slots 3 terminating in laterally directed slots 5 to produce resilient areas 6 suggested roughly by dotted lines. llhese laterally directed slots which increase the flexing area centrally of the blade may be directed inwardly towards one another as in Fig. 2 to confine the flexing area more to the material lying adjacent the central opening 2.

In Fig. 3, the slots 3' are formed into inwardly directed branches 7 forming a central elongated portion 8 around longitudinally and centrally of the blade. The outer ends 9 of this portion terminating short of the narrow slots 3' to produce open areas 10 of a size suflicient to receive blade locating studs 10' of certain types of holders as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this as well as the other form of blades, the slot 3' and the branches 7 thereof together are of such length as to produce comparatively narrow connecting portions 11 between the inner ends of the branches 7 leaving in this as well as in the other forms the cutting edge carrying portions substantially independent from one another.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that a razor blade construction has been provided wherein one of the cutting edge carrying portions is substantially independent from the other and that the connecting portions between the sides of the blade being so located that the distortional flexing of one side of the blade will have appreciably no effect upon the other side. By the provision of the open ended slots at the outer ends of the blade, the blade may be located more accurately relative to the guard and the clamping member of the holder due to the great span between the locating ribs or studs: as indicated at 12 by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. In one form, the blades also have the advantage of being adaptable to certain types of holders now commonly found on the market, with the additional feature of provi the blade with each of the cutting edge enemas portions substantially independent of one another for improved shaving condition of the blade.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flexible double-edged blade for safety razors, having a central opening formed therein and additional openings located one on each side of said central opening. for the reception of clamping and positioning studs of an associated holder, a slot formed at each end of said blade and opening into the outer edge thereof and into said additional openings, and inwardly extending diverging slots formed in said blades communicating with said additional openings and forming a continuation of said first-named slots, said diverging slots together with the slots in the ends oithe blade forming substantially Y-shaped outlines, the inner ends of said diverging slots terminate at a point between said central opening and the cutting edges of the blade leaving comparatively narrow bridgev portions connecting the inner ends of said last-named slot.

2. In a flexible double-edged blade for safety razors, having a central opening formed therein and additional openings located one on each side of said central opening for the reception of clamping and positioning studs of an associated holder, a slot formed at each end of said blade and opening into the outer ends thereof and into said additionalopenings, inwardly extending diverging slots formed in said blade communicating with said additional openings and forming a continuation of saidflrst-named slots, and flexible tongues formed by said diverging slots located longitudinally and centrally oi the blade and positioned between the central and said additional openings, the inner ends of said diverging slots teate at a point between said central opening and the cutting edges of the blade leaving comparatively narrow bridge por-= tions connecting the inner ends of said lastnamed slots.

SYLVES 'D. 8H0 

